Kobe Bryant vs. The Time Dragon: A battle for the ages

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February 20, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) speaks about recently deceased owner Jerry Buss before playing against the Boston Celtics at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Kobe Bryant is one of the most tested warriors in the history of the game. The knight is preparing to battle his final foe: Time. Time flies, but not in an innocent way. She is a ravenous, fire-breathing dragon who scorches and devours all in her path. And now she is coming for Bryant. They’ve been dancing for years—16 of them.

Over that span, Bryant’s logged a total of 54,208 minutes on the battlefield between in the postseason and regular seasons combined. Just four players have more. The only guard who spent more time on the court is Jason Kidd, and with 1,991 more Bryant will surpass him, too.

Few have successfully taunted her for long as Bryant and gotten away with it. His greatness is, in part, defined by his ability to dare that dreadful beast and live to tell about it. His endurance and ability to remain elite for so long is his most outstanding quality. But how much longer can it last?

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